SIP Communications Broker for Anonymous Session Initiation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network protocols face challenges in enabling anonymous communication sessions between users without exchanging personal information, which is crucial for user privacy and safety in social networking environments.
Innovation Solution
A system and method utilizing a communications network with a source SIP server, communications broker, and database that translates and maps personal contact information, allowing users to initiate sessions without revealing their actual IP addresses or contact details, ensuring anonymity through the use of SIP protocols and packet network address translation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If users exchange personal information to initiate communication sessions, then communication reliability is improved, but user anonymity and privacy are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a communications broker as an intermediary component that sits between the SIP server and end users. This broker translates SIP requests, maps personal contact information to anonymous identifiers, and facilitates communication without exposing users' real identities. The broker acts as a mediator that enables reliable communication while preserving anonymity by preventing direct exchange of personal information between users.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates virtual copies of user identities through the use of pseudonyms and mapped identifiers. Instead of using real personal information directly in communication sessions, the system generates and manages virtual representations of users that can be exchanged without revealing actual identities. This copying mechanism allows communication to proceed while the original personal information remains hidden.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If personal contact information is translated and mapped, then user anonymity is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The communications broker is designed as a multi-functional component that handles multiple tasks: translating SIP protocols, mapping contact information, managing anonymity, and facilitating communication. By consolidating these functions into a single universal component rather than separate systems, the patent reduces overall system complexity while achieving the goal of personal information protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service mechanisms where the communications broker automatically manages the translation and mapping of contact information without requiring manual intervention. The broker maintains its own mapping tables and protocols, handling anonymity management autonomously. This self-service approach simplifies operation and reduces the complexity burden on end users and system administrators.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for facilitating an anonymous communications session in a communications environment is provided that includes receiving, from a first endpoint, a request for a communication session involving a second endpoint. The method also includes identifying end user data associated with a first endpoint. The data associated with the first endpoint is mapped to an identity of the first endpoint. The second endpoint is shown the identity of the first endpoint and not the end user data associated with the first endpoint.